What Causes Jet Lag and What Can You Do to Manage and Prevent the Symptoms?

Overview

Jet lag is a condition that affects your energy and state of alertness. It’s caused when your body’s natural clock, or circadian rhythm, is disrupted by traveling to different time zones.

Your body is aligned on a 24-hour cycle or body clock. Your body uses this clock to perform specific biological functions, like releasing hormones that promote sleep, or increasing your body temperature to help you wake up at the start of your day.

Jet lag, also called desynchronosis or circadian dysrhythmia, is temporary, but it can interfere with your day in many ways. It can cause tiredness, drowsiness, lethargy, or even upset stomach.

These symptoms aren’t dangerous, but they can impact your well-being. Preparing for jet lag, and possibly preventing it, can help you ensure this common disorder doesn’t disrupt your next trip.

Causes of jet lag

Your body is naturally set to a 24-hour cycle. This cycle is known as your circadian rhythm. Your body’s temperature, hormones, and other biological functions rise and fall according to this internal time gauge.

When you travel, this clock may no longer align with the time in your new location. For example, you may fly out of Atlanta at 6 p.m. local time and arrive in London at 7 a.m. local time. Your body, however, thinks it’s 1 a.m. Now, just as you’re possibly reaching peak fatigue, you need to stay awake another 12 to 14 hours to help your body adjust to the new time zone.

You could help prepare your body to the new time zone by sleeping on the plane, but several factors make that task difficult. These include temperature, noise, and comfort level.

One factor works in your favor, however. The barometric pressure on planes tends to be lower than air on the ground. This is similar to being on a mountain that’s 8,000 feet above sea level. While there’s just as much oxygen in the air, the lower pressure may result in less oxygen reaching the bloodstream. Lower oxygen levels may make you lethargic, and this can encourage sleep.

Other factors that impact jet lag

Flying allows you to cross multiple time zones very quickly. It’s a very efficient way to travel. The more time zones you cross, the more severe your symptoms of jet lag may be.

Older travelers are more likely to experience more severe symptoms of jet lag than younger travelers. Young travelers, including children, may have fewer symptoms and adjust to the new time more quickly.

The direction you’re flying can have a big impact on your jet lag symptoms, too. Symptoms tend to be more severe when traveling eastward. That’s because staying awake later to help your body adjust to a new time zone is easier than forcing your body to go to sleep earlier.

Symptoms of jet lag

Jet lag occurs when your body’s natural rhythms are significantly upset by travel. When you fight your body’s natural rhythm to match the new time zone, you may begin experiencing symptoms of jet lag. These symptoms usually show up within 12 hours of arriving at your new location, and they may last several days.

The most common symptoms of jet lag include:

tiredness and fatigue

drowsiness

irritability

feeling slightly disoriented and confused

lethargy

minor gastrointestinal issues, including upset stomach and diarrhea

excessive sleepiness

insomnia

For most people, symptoms of jet lag are mild. If you’re experiencing more severe symptoms, like cold sweating, vomiting, and a fever, you may be experiencing something else, such as:

Preventing jet lag

You can help prevent or reduce jet lag by following these six tips and strategies:

1. Snooze on the plane

Try to sleep on the plane if you’re traveling eastward and into a new day. Bring earplugs and eye masks to help dampen noise and light.

2. Select flight times strategically

Pick a flight that allows you to arrive in the early evening. This way, staying up until it’s time for bed in your new time zone isn’t as hard.

3. Power nap

If bedtime is too far out and you need a nap, take a power nap of no more than 20 to 30 minutes. Sleeping longer than that may prevent sleep later in the night.

4. Plan extra days

Take a cue from athletes, and arrive to your destination a few days early so you can acclimate before any big event or meeting you plan to attend.

5. Anticipate the change

If you’re flying eastward, try getting up several hours earlier for a few days prior to your departure. If you’re flying westward, do the opposite. Stay awake later and wake up later to help you adjust before you even take off.

6. Don’t hit the booze

Avoid alcohol and caffeine the day before and the day of your flight. These drinks can interfere with your natural clock and prevent sleep. They may ultimately make the symptoms of jet lag worse.

Treating jet lag

Jet lag doesn’t always require treatment, but a few options are available if the symptoms are bothersome and prevent you from performing your daily tasks.

Sunshine

The sun’s light tells your body it’s time to be awake. If you can, get outside in the sunlight during prime daylight hours once you get to your location. This can help reset your body clock and reduce symptoms of jet lag.

Light therapy

Lighted boxes, lamps, and visors can help reset your circadian rhythms. The artificial light simulates the sun and helps cue your body to be awake. Once you arrive to your new destination, you may use this treatment to help you stay awake during periods of drowsiness so your body can better adjust.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone your body naturally produces in the hours before bedtime. You can take over-the-counter (OTC) melatonin supplements to trigger sleep when your body is fighting it.

Melatonin is fast-acting, so take it no more than 30 minutes before you’re able to sleep. Make sure you can also sleep a full eight hours when you take it. Melatonin may make you drowsy if you wake up before the effects have worn off.

Sleeping tablets

If you experience insomnia when you travel, or if you have difficulty sleeping in new places, talk with your doctor about sleeping pills. Some of these medications are available as OTC products, but your doctor can prescribe stronger versions if necessary.

Sleep medication has several side effects, so be sure to talk with your doctor and understand what they are before you take anything.

Takeaway

It may take several days for your body to adjust to the new time zone. Adjusting your eating, working, and sleeping schedule right away can help speed up the process.

While you adjust, you may experience symptoms of jet lag. Jet lag will likely end in a few days after you arrive. Give yourself time to adjust to the new schedule, and you’ll still be able to enjoy your trip.